Nintendo Wii Bottom Panel Replacement - ric

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Introduction

Replacing the bottom panel requires removal of every component inside the Wii.

What you need

1. Step 1 Nintendo Wii Bottom Panel Replacement
  Use a metal spudger to remove the white plastic screw covers stuck to the lower case near the front of the Wii.
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2. Step 2
  Remove the two 8.3 mm Tri-Wing screws hidden under the covers you just removed.
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3. Step 3
  Remove the single 5.9 mm Phillips screw under the controller port door nearest the faceplate.
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4. Step 4
  Use a metal spudger to remove the rubber foot stuck to the side of the Wii near the DVD drive opening.
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5. Step 5
  Remove the single 5.9 mm Phillips screw hidden under the foot you just removed.
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6. Step 6
  Carefully pull the faceplate away from the front of the Wii.
  
  Use a pair of tweezers to disconnect the LED cable's plastic connector from the motherboard.
  
  Remove the faceplate.
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7. Step 7
  Open the controller port cover until it is perpendicular to the black controller port bezel.
  
  Pull the controller port cover straight up to release it from the outer case.
  
  Repeat this procedure for the memory card port cover.
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8. Step 8
  Remove the two remaining 4.1 mm Phillips screws along the top edge of the black plastic controller port bezel.
  
  Lift the bezel from the long edge furthest away from the controller ports and remove it from the Wii.
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9. Step 9
  Remove the two 5 mm Phillips screws above the controller ports.
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10. Step 10
  Use a metal spudger to remove the three highlighted screw covers stuck to the side of the Wii.
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11. Step 11
  Remove the following screws:
  
  Two 5 mm Phillips screws
  
  One 8.2 mm Tri-Wing screw
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12. Step 12
  Use a metal spudger to remove the two rubber feet stuck to the bottom face of the Wii near the rear ports.
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13. Step 13
  Remove the two 8.2 mm Tri-Wing screws hidden under the feet you just removed.
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15. Step 14
  Lift the outer case straight up off the body of the Wii.
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16. Step 15
  Remove the small Phillips screw securing the battery door to the bottom panel.
  
  This screw is captive to the battery door.
  
  Pull the battery door out of the Wii.
  
  This is a good time to change the CR2032 battery if it hasn't been changed recently.
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17. Step 16
  Remove the 8.2 mm Tri-Wing screw that was hidden beneath the battery door.
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18. Step 17
  Remove the two 8.2 mm Tri-Wing screws securing the DVD drive shield near the controller ports.
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19. Step 18
  Lift the DVD drive shield upward and remove it from the Wii.
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20. Step 19
  Remove the four 9 mm Phillips screws securing the DVD drive to the bottom panel.
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21. Step 20
  Lift the side of the DVD drive opposite the controller ports enough to access the cables on its bottom face.
  
  Carefully pull the DVD drive power cable out from under the plastic shroud near the heat sink.
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22. Step 21
  Pull the DVD drive power cable away from its socket on the DVD drive.
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23. Step 22
  Use your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the DVD drive ribbon cable socket.
  
  Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.
  
  Pull the DVD drive ribbon cable out of its socket.
  
  Remove the DVD drive from the Wii.
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24. Step 23
  Use a pair of tweezers to lift the fan connector up and out of its socket on the logic board.
  
  Be sure your tweezers are clamped down on the fan connector, not the socket on the motherboard.
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25. Step 24
  Remove the two 10 mm Phillips screws securing the fan to the fan shroud.
  
  Remove the fan from the Wii.
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26. Step 25
  Use the tip of a spudger or another fine-pointed tool to carefully pry one of the black plastic retaining fingers attached to the fan shroud away from the Wi-Fi antenna board.
  
  Lift the Wi-Fi antenna out of the fan shroud.
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27. Step 26
  Remove the single 10 mm Phillips screw securing the second Wi-Fi antenna to the top of the fan shroud.
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28. Step 27
  Remove the two pieces of tape securing the second Wi-Fi antenna cable to the plastic bracket near the heat sink.
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29. Step 28
  Carefully de-route both antennas from the frame of the Wii and lay them aside.
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30. Step 29
  Remove the three 10 mm Phillips screws securing the fan shroud to the Wii.
  
  Lift the fan shroud off the heat sink and remove it from the Wii.
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31. Step 30
  Remove the following six screws securing the EMI fingers to the bottom panel:
  
  Four 7 mm Phillips screws
  
  Two 11.3 mm Phillips screws
  
  Remove both sets of EMI fingers from the Wii.
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32. Step 31
  Remove the following three screws:
  
  One 7 mm Phillips screw
  
  Two 10 mm Phillips screws
  
  Lift the bracket out of the Wii.
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33. Step 32
  Remove the three 10 mm Phillips screws securing the black bracket to the bottom panel near the front of the Wii.
  
  Slightly lift the bracket and use your other hand to pull the retaining clip away from where the Wi-Fi antennas enter the motherboard sheild.
  
  Remove the bracket from the Wii.
  
  Be sure not to lose the small square nut loosely held by the black plastic bracket.
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34. Step 33
  Remove the nine remaining 7 mm Phillips screws securing the motherboard cover to the bottom panel.
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35. Step 34
  Carefully lift the motherboard cover off the motherboard, minding any cables that may get caught.
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36. Step 35
  Remove the four 11.3 mm Phillips screws securing the heat sink to the bottom panel.
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37. Step 36
  Lift the heat sink off the motherboard.
  
  When working near the exposed processors, be sure not to disturb the thermal pads as the thermal paste may leak out.
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38. Step 37
  Lift the motherboard assembly off the bottom panel, minding any cables that may get caught.
  
  Bottom panel remains.
  
  Be sure to keep track of the small piece of foam highlighted in red.
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Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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Member since: 09/24/09

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